How should a player like Devin Hester be valued in the NFL draft? (1 Viewer)

[njherdfan]

A buddy and I were having this argument today: going into the NFL draft, let's say there was a player like Devin Hester available: he clearly has elite return ability. For the sake of this argument, let's say that it's almost guaranteed he will be a highly successful returner in the NFL, and he has a good chance of becoming all-world, like Hester.

Other than that, his position is up in the air. He played offense and defense in college, and he may or may not be able to turn in to a successful NFL WR. Also, we were going under the assumption that picks in the first two rounds SHOULD turn in to long-term starters (at any position), and that a player drafted primarily as a return specialist will presumably have a shorter career than most other players, except for running backs.

With all of that in mind, where do you pick a player like Hester, who should turn into an elite returner, but may never be a significant offensive contributor?

 

[tdmills]

Sounds like a loaded question honestly.

Not every 1/2 rounder will be a starter...nor will a returner expect to have a short career.

However, when calculating in the shorter field position by kicking the ball out of bounds....I would argue that Devin Hester is a 1st round pick on the sole reason that he helps the team more than the average returner....vs a 1st round pick to an average starter at that position more(outside of QB).

 

[Maui]

Our league gives nothing to the WR/RB for punt returns. The defense gets the points so I would have a tough time drafting Hester.

 

[Adebisi]

The fact that he'd be guaranteed counts for an awful lot. That kind of certainty could very likely make him a top 10 pick.

 

[Todem]

1st rounder anywhere from 11-20 just for the fact he can win you 2-3 games a year from returns.

Special teams can decide a handful of games over the course of a season and post season. It forces teams to make adjustments. Plus he can be useful in the passing game. He will go down has the best KR/PR the game has ever seen.

 

[Novice2]

Didn't the Dolphins draft a great punt returner in the first round?

 

[two_dollars]

I voted late first. There is usually a lot of talent in the first half of the draft where you can fill key needs in areas like offensive line or positions that will see more play time. In the back of the first, teams are more likely to grab an elite talent in a position that doesn't see every down. Usually though, these players go in the 2nd, but since you said he was a sure thing, I can see a late first, like the Patriots taking a Hester type.

 

[knickstorm]

well at least at the college level, most of these elite, eye-popping returners are by default have the talent to be great college wide receivers which lead to a 1st round pick, ie Harvin, Dez, Desean Jackson, Ted Ginnn..........it's hard to find a guy in college who's a stud returner and a poor wide receiver.